Don Granato Appointed Head Coach of the 2026 U.S. Men’s National Team for the IIHF Men’s World Championship
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Don Granato (Downers Grove, Ill.), who possesses over 30 years of coaching expertise across nearly every level of the sport, has been appointed head coach of the 2026 U.S. Men’s National Team that will participate in the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship, as announced today by USA Hockey. The tournament is scheduled for May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.
“Don is a remarkable coach who offers a vast amount of experience,” stated Brett Peterson, general manager of the 2026 U.S. Men’s National Team and assistant general manager of the NHL’s Florida Panthers. “He has a deep understanding of the international hockey scene and what is required to achieve victory.”
Granato’s distinguished background includes roles in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL in professional hockey; at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program; as well as in college hockey and the USHL. He has also acted as either head or assistant coach for six prior IIHF world championships, which encompass three IIHF Men’s World Championships; one IIHF World Junior Championship; and two IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championships.
“I’m privileged to be selected to coach our men’s national team,” remarked Granato. “Whenever you have the chance to represent your country, it holds significant meaning. I’m eager to collaborate with our players and staff in creating a team that embodies our nation and competes for a gold medal.”
The Men’s World Championship
The U.S. will enter the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship as the reigning gold medalist. The 16-team tournament places Team USA in Group A for the preliminary round alongside Austria, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Latvia, and host Switzerland. All Group A matches will take place at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich. Group B, which features Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden, will conduct its preliminary round games at BCF Arena in Fribourg. The top four teams from each group will progress to the quarterfinals, which will utilize a cross-over format. The winners will move on to the semifinals, followed by the bronze and gold-medal matches. NHL Network will broadcast all U.S. games during the tournament.
2026 Men's Worlds Home ABOUT DON GRANATO
Don Granato most recently held the position of head coach for the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres from 2021-24 after joining the organization as an assistant coach in 2019-20 and subsequently being appointed interim head coach on March 17, 2021.
Previously, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and one season as associate head coach for the University of Wisconsin’s men’s hockey program.
Granato was the head coach at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program from 2011-17, during which he led the NTDP’s U.S. National Under-18 Team to two championships at the Under-18 Four Nations Tournament (2012, 2014) and guided the U.S. National Under-17 Team to titles at the Four Nations Tournament (2013), World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (2013), and Under-17 Five Nations Tournament (2014). In 2012-13, Granato assisted the U.S. National Under-18 Team in achieving an 11-6-4 (W-L-T) record against NCAA Division I and III institutions, marking the highest winning percentage (.619) against collegiate opponents in NTDP history.
The Downers Grove, Ill., native’s career has also included roles as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues (2005-06) and head coach for the Chicago Wolves (2008-10). Granato was also the head coach of the Worcester IceCats from 2000-2005, where he earned the AHL’s Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the league’s most outstanding coach. He coached for three seasons in the ECHL with the Columbus Chill (1997-99) and Peoria Rivermen (1999-2000), following four seasons in the USHL with the Wisconsin Capitols (1993-94) and Green Bay Gamblers (1994-97). He led Peoria to the 2000 ECHL Kelly Cup championship and secured the 1996 USHL Clark Cup championship with Green Bay.
On the international front, Granato has acted as an assistant coach for a U.S. Men’s National Team on three separate occasions, including in 2022, 2018 (bronze medal), and 2014. He also guided the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team to gold (2015) and silver (2013) medal finishes at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship as head coach, while additionally serving as an assistant coach for the 2015 U.S. National Junior Team.
Before transitioning to coaching, Granato played professionally for two seasons with Columbus (ECHL) from 1991-93, accumulating 26 goals and 64 assists in 103 career games. At the collegiate level, he played four seasons (1987-91) at the University of Wisconsin, where he recorded 88 points (45G, 43A) in 162 career games, highlighted by a national championship with the Badgers in 1990.
NOTES: The U.S. has achieved 36 victories in 48 games in the men’s world championships over the past five years and secured two medals in that timeframe, including gold last year and bronze in 2021. The gold medal marked the first for the U.S. in 92 years at the men’s world championship … Team USA will compete against Germany in its sole pre-tournament match at SAP Arena Mannheim in Mannheim, Germany, on Sunday, May 10, at 5 p.m. local time/11 a.m. ET.
